Important news regarding moderation team....

[MaxwellsEq]

It is with deepest regrets, and immense appreciation for the work that they have done to inform you that Adam, Brad and James have decided to step down from their moderation duties. I respect their decision and have removed them as moderators. So yes, it is just me right now as the only staff member.

I can't understate how indebted I am to them for the hard work, dedication and care they have provided to support me in growing and nurturing the forum to where it is today. I considered them family and continue to have a warm place in my heart for them.

Sometimes the best relationships hit a rough spot and boy did we hit one on the issue of allowing or disallowing discussions around the tariffs US has imposed on the entire world. They feel allowing this means we are violating our rule of no political discussion. I feel that the human aspect of this is so immense that it garners discussion. Heck, I think it demand discussion lest we look like we want to turn a blind eye to incredible suffering that we are causing for many people both in US and around the world. There can always be another place where people can go and discuss audio. But damaged lives can't be repaired.

Normally I don't consider discussion of politics in a forum like this to make a difference. But here, I think we can influence people by bringing better understanding to the issues at hand. And with it, effectuate change. This is already working in real time with government backing off from the strong actions of a week ago.

For their side, the mods feel like I am violating the rules so they can no longer enforce them. I see their point of view.

I always say there is no rule book for running a forum. Every decision is subjective and has a possibility of being wrong, massively wrong. Or the right one. Ultimately you have to trust the wisdom you have accumulated in running such entities and live with the consequences.

So please join me in thanking the team for the incredible work they have done. I will leave this thread open for a while.

Please, please try not to create more threads on these topics. It is just one of me and I need to test stuff as well as running the forum.

My thanks to Adam, Brad and James for their high quality, effective, almost invisible moderation. I'm sure it's been sometimes hard work. I'm also grateful for the gentle way the mods have corrected me in the past when I "misread the room"!

My gratitude also to Amir for this forum, which I find thoroughly enjoyable and always educational.

 

[D2013]

And another political post obviously aimed at antagonizing others.

 

[Lambda]

Normally I don't consider discussion of politics in a forum like this to make a difference.

i would not call it a discussion if only one person is allowed to share there opinion.

I have deep respect for Adam, Brad and James for steeping up (or down) for there principles.

 

[svosprey]

Thank you to the mods and Amir. It's a shame this has happened. But these are not normal times for your country and the effect it is having on the world.

I understand why we wouldn't usually discuss politics but I think we are now in a place where there is good and there is bad, there is freedom, and now there's fascism. To those that haven't picked a side, or think you don't have to, then I'm afraid you haven't been paying attention.

I'm with you. I don't want to have any discussions of any kind with supporters of fascism.

Tempest in a teapot. Personally I couldn't care less about Amir's approach to those posts (he's free to do as he chooses in my view), aside from the fallout it unfortunately caused amongst the mods.

No reason this great forum won't refocus on audio in a day or two and resume as it was. Hopefully.

 

[Salt]

Completely agree. When our politicians and their supporters need to be called out for damage they are doing to our country ALL talk becomes political regardless of "rules". This was the right decision. When fascists raise their ugly heads they need to be called out and knocked down by all who cherish our constitution. If we can't discuss anymore, the guns come out. Not the preferred option.

Exactly...
... comments like this are the uummpphh ....

 

[Vovgan]

We should never forget that while all animals are equal and should obey the same rules, some are rightfully more equal than others. Especially in the companies or forums that they create. Or offices they got themselves elected into.

 

[respice finem]

Just a thought: What would be the expected outcome of a debate about something we cannot change anyway?
Sharing the pain, maybe, but is it really worth the animosities it would inevitably create?

Much to lose, little to gain IMHO.

 

[svosprey]

@amirm I was rather suprised you taking this road.
Shutting threads down or blocking comments is not really your style

Each of us has his own view on Trump actions (take it from an European..), but this has nothing to do with this forum

Tarifs and presidents come and go, ASR is here

I'm strongly in the camp of not allowing politics and religion on forums like this, but seeing that these tariffs really do affect ASR directly I do see why you are keen on talking about it Amir. But of course it's a slippery slope and I do understand the mods decision to leave! Thanks for your service though guys, appreciate it

Exactly...
... comments like this are the uummpphh ....

What do you mean by uummph?

 

[CoryGillmore]

It's too bad that today even a subjective discussion of policy that directly affects the audio industry is felt like an attack on one's political beliefs. I thought your articles were incisive and well researched. Cause and effect. Thanks to the moderators and their contribution. Hang in there Amirm, I really appreciate your site.

Political bias is the death of reason. I wouldn't call myself a Trump supporter but I did want him to win in November. Since then, I like some things he's done. That said, these tariffs are dumb as hell. And we won't win this tariff war with China. China has so much leverage over us it's not even funny. They could literally just start dumping our bonds and crash our economy. Or refuse to export precious metals to the US and cripple our military. We need them more than they need us, 100%

 

[svosprey]

Just a thought: What would be the expected outcome of a debate about something we cannot change anyway?
Sharing the pain, maybe, but is it really worth the animosities it would inevitably create?

Much to lose, little to gain IMHO.

When people are informed and take action there is much to be gained.

 

[CoryGillmore]

Just a thought: What would be the expected outcome of a debate about something we cannot change anyway?
Sharing the pain, maybe, but is it really worth the animosities it would inevitably create?

Much to lose, little to gain IMHO.

If people can't discuss these things without turning into little psycho manbabies then ban them. It needs to be discussed.

 

[Salt]

What do you mean by uummph?

What is your feeling about it?

 

[DanielT]

My thanks to Adam, Brad and James for their high quality, effective, almost invisible moderation. I'm sure it's been sometimes hard work. I'm also grateful for the gentle way the mods have corrected me in the past when I "misread the room"!

My gratitude also to Amir for this forum, which I find thoroughly enjoyable and always educational.

I was going to write something similar, but you phrased it elegantly, so for what you wrote I'll give double:

 

[svosprey]

Political bias is the death of reason. I wouldn't call myself a Trump supporter but I did want him to win in November. Since then, I like some things he's done. That said, these tariffs are dumb as hell. And we won't win this tariff war with China. China has so much leverage over us it's not even funny. They could literally just start dumping our bonds and crash our economy. Or refuse to export precious metals to the US and cripple our military. We need them more than they need u

What is your feeling about it?

If you have something to say, say it.

 

[Vacceo]

The best thank you for the moderators is to stay civil, stay friendly, and keep a relaxed and welcoming environment for all of us.

And for Amir, well, even if I may or may not dissagree on his views, at the end of the day, I am a guest in his house, so I have no capacity to tell him what he can and cannot do.

On this particular case, I think we have all being played with. Without an actual industrial policy, something Germany had with Bismark, something South Korea did in five-year plans (yes, like the Soviets), something that US Reconstruction implemented (with varying success), something that Japan did after WWII, tariffs are just a way to give people and groups with assets some casino chips to increase their wealth while you get the real economy (non financial, that is) in shambles and de-industrialize the US even further.

So yes, I can see Amir´s worries.

 

[CoryGillmore]

It's too bad that today even a subjective discussion of policy that directly affects the audio industry is felt like an attack on one's political beliefs. I thought your articles were incisive and well researched. Cause and effect. Thanks to the moderators and their contribution. Hang in there Amirm, I really appreciate your site.

Agreed it's so ridiculous how people make their political beliefs their entire personality. It honestly annoys me to no end.

 

[capslock]

Thanks to the mod team for their excellent work that was mostly invisible, and thanks to Amir doing all he is doing, and for broaching the topic of tariffs.

I've been a mod on a German audio forum for many years. We have a no-politics rule, too. The problem is that it is awfully hard to define what politics are. You'd think that discussing renewable energy or covid nut and bolts would be harmless, and a forum full of bright and technically minded people an excellent place to do it, but especially during covid, some people were trolling big time. But things are a lot quiter for us mods now.

 

[svosprey]

Exactly...
... comments like this are the uummpphh ....

If you have something to say, say it.

 

[Salt]

If you have something to say, say it.

No, overthink your wording by yourself.

 

[Robbo99999]

I can understand why it caused a problem. Perhaps the minefield is how much discussion do you allow on this subject and where in the forum - for instance it would be a pain if it occurred in every thread or a lot of the threads in terms of taking over the discussion. I said it before in another thread - I think most people in the world don't agree with the latest issues that have arisen in global trade, and that's including people in the USA I imagine!